Safety
SAFETY PROGRAM
CAP Safety Education Requirements are described in CAPR 160-1, CAP Safety Program, 1 November 2019. All members must be in compliance with the provisions of this regulation in order to participate in CAP activities, missions, exercises, meetings and to operate or ride as passenger in any CAP aircraft or vehicle. This regulation prescribes the Safety Risk Management (RM) Program. As appended by other regulations, operating instructions, it defines the structure and philosophies of the Safety Management System (SMS) and the practice of RM.
Safety is a key element of the overall CAP culture. Use of the RM-based safety structure provides a foundation for the success of the CAP SMS. Members are required to be informed and practice the CAP safety RM program.
The new CAP Safety Information System (CAPSIS) is an upgrade to the older Safety Information and Reporting System (SIRS) SIRS. CAPSIS includes new improved processes. It changes how to manage CAP Safety information and communications within the SIS and improves the process for reporting and reviewing safety occurrences. It also requires safety action planning and validation and hosts important Safety links and applications in the eServices link for CAPSIS.
All Safety Officers are required to take the “Reporting Safety Significant Occurrences (SSO)” training module in AXIS Learning Management System (LMS) portal. This course should be completed within one month of assignment. Assignment to review a SSO requires the completion of the “Reviewing Safety Significant Occurrences” in AXIS.
Information about CAP Safety Education Requirements for all members and specific roles and responsibilities for squadron, wing, and group staff members are defined in CAP 160-1. Cadets and seniors are required to receive safety education during each calendar month. Units will provide members an annual review of the RM.
Mishap Reporting
CAP Regulation 160-2, Safety Reporting & Review, A key component of the SMS is a commitment to report and analyze all mishaps, hazards, and other “near miss” occurrences to identify the hazards and control the risks which were revealed. Reporting, review, and prevention are key components of the safety program. Guidance on reports and review process may be found on the safety pages of the gocivilairpatrol.com website. Reporting SSO’s will the guidance in the Rocky Mountain Region Supplement to CAPR 160-2.
Mishap Reviews
Once a mishap has occurred, it is important to determine why it occurred. The key objective is to determine the cause and prevention for future occurrences. The Review Officer assigned to review mishaps must complete the “Reviewing Safety Significant Occurrences” in AXIS before being assigned for the review.
Risk Assessment Worksheets
Two levels of RM will be utilized for CAP activities - Deliberate RM and Real-time RM. Deliberate RM applies to situations when the full formal RM process is applied and a CAPF 160 is required. An example of a CAPF 160 is included in this webpage. Real Time RM applies to real time decisions made during the execution of every activity. CAPR 160S will be used for Real-Time RM.
CAPR 160-2, paragraph 5.2.1 requires all cadets and senior members receive safety education at least once each calendar month. Safety briefings are available in eServices to meet this requirement. Also, the Wing Safety Officer (COWG/SE) will send a monthly safety briefing that can be used to meet the requirement. Group/Squadron Safety Officers are responsible for completing this requirement.
Annual Safety Risk Management (RM) Day
In accordance with CAPR 160-1 paragraph 5.2.1.4, all COWG organizations including Wing and Group staffs must complete the annual Safety RM Review in the months of January thru March. Required briefings for this review are provided by NHQ/SE. COWG organizations can supplement these briefings as necessary to cover specific safety topics that are our focused on the organization mission. COWG/SE will monitor completion of the requirement and provide the status to COWG/CC weekly.
Aircraft Hangar/Tie Down Plans
COWG locations where aircraft are housed are required to prepare an Aircraft Hangar/Tie Plan for this location as required in CAPP 1303, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Guide. These locations normally include Colorado Springs, Cortez, Boulder, Durango, Greely, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Centennial, Steamboat Springs, Montrose, Pueblo, and Grand Junction. Each must include a CAPF 160 identifying the specific hazards and risk controls air airplane operations at the location. The plan will also consider mission or Search and Rescue Exercises (SAREX) that include aircraft from other locations that are deployed to the offsite location.
Updates to the Hangar/Tie Down Safety Plan are due annually. The COWG/SE will solicit updates to the plan. If aircraft are moved from one hangar location to another at any location, then the plan must be updated as soon as possible after the relocation.
The Incident Commander (IC) for missions and SAREX’s conducted from airports that are not normally used by COWG aircraft will prepare a CAPF 160 for the new airport before aircraft operations begin.
Safety Officer Special Track
All COWG Safety Officers are encouraged to complete the safety specialty ratings defined in CAPP 40-160, Safety Officer Specialty Track Guide. The COWG/SE will act as a mentor for Safety Officers working on development of knowledge and skills associated with the Safety Officer Specialty Track.
FAA Wings - Pilot Proficiency Program
All pilots in the Colorado Wing are encouraged to participate in the FAA Wings - Pilot Proficiency Program. The most significant incentive to participating pilots is the added level of safety and professionalism that is obtained through adoption of a consistent recurrent training program.
Pilots participating in the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program at the Basic Phase need not accomplish the flight review requirements of 14 CFR part 61, if since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, he or she has satisfactorily completed or currently holds the Basic or higher WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program phase in an aircraft (reference 14 CFR part 61.56(e)).
Pilots who participate in the program throughout each year to maintain at least the Basic phase will always have a current flight review as the date for your Basic phase and corresponding flight review will move as you continue your safety education by participation in accredited FAASTeam activities and courses. All WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program activity and dates are conveniently tracked on FAASafety.gov.
